Meatballs are simple to make and easy to customize according to your personal tastes. The most common cooking methods include oven-baking and pan-frying. Keep reading to learn more about the different ways to prepare and cook meatballs.

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Ingredients

Makes 4 to 6 servings

1 lb (450 g) ground meat (ground beef or ground beef combination)

1/4 cup (60 ml) dry bread crumbs

1 egg, beaten

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) salt

1/4 tsp (1.25 ml) ground black pepper

1 Tbsp (15 ml) dried minced onion (optional)

2 tsp (10 ml) dried parsley (optional)

2 Tbsp (30 ml) olive oil

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Forming the Meatballs

1

Cover your work surface with parchment paper. Tear off a sheet of parchment paper roughly 18 inches (46 cm) in length and spread it over a flat portion of your kitchen counter.

This section or parchment paper will provide you with a clean, nonstick surface on which to place your formed meatballs before you cook them.

Note that you can also use wax paper instead of parchment paper.

If you plan on baking your meatballs, you can line a baking dish or baking sheet with parchment paper instead of lining the counter. You could also grease the dish and line the formed meatballs on it without the use of parchment paper.

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2

Combine the ground meat, bread crumbs, eggs, and seasonings in a large bowl. Use your hands or a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients thoroughly.

Ground beef is the simplest meat option for you to use, but you can also use a combination made of equal parts ground beef and ground pork, ground beef and ground sausage, or ground beef and ground veal. For a healthier option, you could skip the beef completely and use ground turkey, instead.

You can use either unseasoned or seasoned bread crumbs. Dry bread crumbs are often easiest to work with, but you could also tear a slice of fresh bread into small crumbs and use that in place of dry crumbs for a fresher, softer result.

Make sure to slightly beat the egg with a fork or whisk before adding it to the mixture. Otherwise, it may fail to bind the meat properly.

Salt and pepper are basic seasonings to add to your meatballs, but minced onion and parsley can be used if you want to give the flavor more depth. Other herbs, like oregano or cilantro, could be used instead of or alongside the parsley, as well.

3

Form 1-inch (2.5-cm) balls. Use your hands to roll portions of the meat mixture into balls. Line the meatballs up on your parchment paper until ready to cook.

If you have a melon-baller or small ice cream scoop, you could use that to form your meatballs instead of your hands. You could also use a teaspoon to help you portion off the meat into workable amounts.

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Part 2 of 4: Baking Meatballs in the Oven

1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).[1] If you have not already done so, prepare a 9- by 13-inch (23- by 33-cm) baking dish by coating it with the olive oil. Place the baking dish in the oven as it preheats to warm the dish and the oil.

Only use enough oil to grease the pan. If you notice any puddles of olive oil, you should wipe them out or spread them further with a clean paper towel.

Nonstick cooking spray may be used instead of cooking oil.

2

Transfer the meatballs to your prepared baking dish. Remove your baking dish from the oven after it finishes preheating. Place your meatballs in the dish, spacing them roughly 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart from one another.

Keep the meatballs in a single layer and do not allow them to touch as they bake. If the meatballs bake while touching one another, they may end up sticking together.

Gently press down on each meatball as you place it in the baking dish in order to somewhat flatten the bottom. By giving each ball a flat edge, you reduce the risk of the meatballs rolling around and coming into contact with each other in the oven.

3

Bake for 15 minutes. Place the baking dish with the meatball in the preheated oven. Cook for 15 minutes, or until the top sides are well-browned.

Part 4 of 4: Other Ways to Make and Serve Meatballs

1

Follow another simple meatball recipe. By combining ground hamburger with eggs, bread crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, and dry onion soup mix, you can create meatballs that are both flavorful and supremely easy to make.

Make Italian-style meatballs. Mix ground beef together with classic Italian flavors like garlic, Romano cheese, and oregano to form meatballs that serve as the perfect accompaniment to spaghetti and other Italian dishes.

For a unique twist, prepare Swedish meatballs with sweet and sour sauce. Use a standard Swedish meatball recipe but serve the meatballs in a tangy sauce instead of the traditional rich, creamy sauce that usually accompanies them.

7

Cook up meatless meatballs. You can replace meats like beef, pork, and turkey with textured vegetable protein in order to create a healthy vegetarian alternative to the standard meatball.

Serve these meatless meatballs as you would serve any ordinary meatball. For instance, you can enjoy them on their own, in pasta dishes and soups, or on sandwiches.

8

Think of different ways to serve your meatballs. Most meatball recipes can be served and enjoyed on their own, but adding meatballs to other dishes can be a good way to enhance the flavor of both the meatballs and the dish itself.

Meatball sub sandwiches are a relatively mess-free way to enjoy meatballs drenched in sauce, as well.

9

Freeze meatballs for later use. If you are unable to cook and serve your meatballs right this moment, but you still want to have some on hand for easy access, you can freeze the pre-formed meatballs until ready to use.

Please be as detailed as possible in your explanation. We will take your detailed information, edit it for clarity and accuracy, and incorporate it into an article that will help thousands of people.Don't say: Eat more fats.Do say: Add fats with some nutritional value to the foods you already eat. Try olive oil, butter, avocado, and mayonnaise.

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